Clashes continue in northern Yemen, death toll rises

Clashes continue in northern Yemen, death toll rises

A wounded Yemeni pro-reform protester is rushed into a makeshift hospital in Sanaa's landmark Change Square on November 24, 2011. Loyalists of President Ali Abdullah Saleh shot dead at least five people in the Yemeni capital casting a pall over a hard-won deal for his departure after 33 years in power.

Shiite rebels attacked a Sunni Islamist school in northern Yemen Saturday, killing more than 20 people and wounding 70 others.

A teacher at Dar al-Hadith, a Muslim fundamentalist centre located in a suburb of the Shiite stronghold city of Saada, spoke to the AFP on condition of anonymity that the Shiite Houthis saw the school as a threat.

Before the Houthis made the attack, they cordoned off the suburb and prevented food from being delivered to about 10,000 people for two weeks, the teacher said.

Violence continued through Sunday when the Houthis attacked Sunni Islamist Salafi fighters with gunfire in Damaj, killing 25 and wounding 48, Reuters reported.

The pro-Shiite Houthi movement in Yemen has expanded in power during the 10-month uprising to sack President Ali Abdullah Saleh from his 33-year rule, especially in the northern provinces. The yearlong conflict to eradicate the Houthi rebels has been one of several issues that sits at the forefront of the country.